A MAN who spat in the face of a bar worker at a pub at Huddersfield railway station has been punished.

Joel Campbell, 31, was ordered to pay compensation to his victim following the attack at the Head of Steam pub on June 28.

Huddersfield magistrates had heard how bar worker Vanessa Boothroyd had been unable to stop washing her face after Campbell spat all over her face.

Linda Fowler, prosecuting, told the bench that the incident happened at the pub, which can be accessed by one of the station platforms.

She said Miss Boothroyd was outside collecting glasses from the tables when she saw a number of commuters leaving the station.

The staff member recognised one of the males and said Campbell, of Thorpe Lane in Almondbury, was behind him.

Mrs Fowler said that the upholsterer suddenly started swearing at her, asking Miss Boothroyd: “Who are you f*****g smirking at?”.

She said: “She was shocked. She went into the pub and was followed by the defendant who continued to be aggressive.

“He suddenly lunged forwards and spat full in her face.

“The spit landed in her eyes, nose and mouth. She said that since the incident she's constantly washing her face.”

Miss Boothroyd said that she recognised Campbell and had confronted him before as he had used the pub as a shortcut through the station.

Campbell admitted assaulting the staff member.

Sonia Kidd, defending, said that the pair did know each other as she used to be the partner of one of Campbell’s friends.

But when the relationship broke down, Mrs Kidd said Campbell sided with his friend and at that point relations with Miss Boothroyd soured.

“He spat at her because he felt that she was goading him, that’s how he responded.

“He didn’t want to hit a woman and thought that spitting was the best option.

The lawyer added that her client knew that he should have just walked away from the situation.”

Chair Gillian Dawson told Campbell: “It was an unpleasant act (and) the wrong reaction.”

Magistrates ordered him to a curfew of 28 days between the hours of 9pm and 6am which will be electronically monitored.

Campbell was also told to pay £100 compensation to the victim and £85 towards court costs.